Green tea & Matcha

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Green tea (particularly the varieties Sencha and Bancha, as well as Genmaicha and Hojicha) is the most popular hot drink in Japan and an important part of Japanese food culture. The preparation of Japanese green tea is originally based on ceremonial rites with spiritual significance. In keeping with this idea, I’d like to introduce you here to the very best method for gently brewing green tea, just as they do in Japan!

Japanese tea is not only delicious, but also healthy and one of the most widely consumed drinks in Japan. Japanese green tea, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular worldwide; it is now a vibrant part of Japanese culture and plays a significant role in everyday Japanese life. In this in-depth article on Japanese tea, you’ll find out everything you need to know in a nutshell:

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Japanese green teas are generally much more delicate than other types of tea such as black tea, fruit teas or herbal teas. Therefore, the flavour of green tea varies dramatically depending on the water temperature used for brewing and the steeping time. To get the best flavour out of green tea, it’s absolutely vital to know how to prepare each variety correctly.

As a general rule, the water used to prepare green tea should be brought to a rolling boil and then allowed to cool to the correct temperature. The boiled water from the kettle is best poured into an open container (such as a jug) and left to stand for 1–2 minutes before being poured into a teapot or a teacup containing a tea bag or tea strainer.

Whether you want to use a teapot or a teacup to prepare the tea is entirely up to you. The only important thing is that you use a tea bag, tea strainer or a fine-mesh tea infuser, to remove the tea leaves once they have finished steeping. If green tea is left to steep for too long, the flavour quickly becomes bitter.

The following recipe shows you the correct way to prepare each type of Japanese green tea (i.e. Sencha, Bancha, Hojicha and Genmaicha):

Makes 1 cup | 5 minutes

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Green tea is the most popular hot drink in Japan and an important part of Japanese food culture. The preparation of Japanese green tea is rooted in ceremonial rites with spiritual significance. In keeping with this tradition, I’d like to share with you the very best method for gently brewing green tea, just like in Japan!

Ingredients (200 ml = 1 serving = 1 cup)

For Sencha and Bancha Green tea:
2.5 g loose tea
200 ml water
For Genmaicha and Hojicha tea:
3 g loose tea
200 ml water
For Matcha:
1 g loose tea
80 ml water

Preparation (5 minutes)

Step 1

To begin with, choose a tea variety and bring the water to a rolling boil in a kettle.

Step 2

Weigh out the amount of tea according to the table (2.5 g = approx. 2 teaspoons) and allow the boiled water to cool to the specified water temperature.

Step 3

Place the weighed loose tea into a tea bag (or a tea infuser) and seal it. Hang it in a teacup and pour over water at the correct temperature. Allow to infuse for 1 to 3 minutes, as per the table above .
For Matcha: Place the green tea powder in a cup and pour hot water (65°C) over it. Ideally, whisk with a Matcha whisk and enjoy immediately.

Step 4

If necessary, remove the tea bag and serve the tea. This goes very well with, for example, delicious homemade Mochi. Done – Itadakimasu!

This recipe for Japanese tea is a wonderful accompaniment to a Japanese dessert! Here’s a small selection of our best dessert recipes that go well with it: